Police on alert, step up security across Mumbai

With Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s 55th death anniversary and Muharram falling on Tuesday, the city police have put in place elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incidents.

Nisar Tamboli, police spokesperson and deputy commissioner of police, told the Hindustan Times, “Chaityabhoomi in Dadar, where large crowd will throng to pay homage on Mahaparinirvan Din (Ambedkar’s death anniversary), has already been sanitised. Anti-sabotage checks have been carried out at the venue keeping in mind the crowd and the possibility of threat from anti-national elements.”

Tamboli said they were leaving nothing to chance and the Dadar and the Shivaji Park police stations had been provided with additional manpower from the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), the Riot Control Police (RCP), the Rapid Action Force (RPF), and also from the Mumbai police reserve police (LA II).

Also, the Quick Response Team (QRT) commandos and striking mobile force would be deployed at the venue, he said, adding that a mobile vehicle will scan passing and stationary cars.

The traffic police have already made arrangements on roads leading to the venue from the railway station as a majority of visitors would be coming from outside the city.

Meanwhile, police stations in south Mumbai have also been provided with additional manpower for Muharram. The roads where the processions would be taken out have been secured, the police said.

Requesting citizens not to believe rumours, Tamboli said, “We will be monitoring the situation and rumour mongers would be dealt with severely.”